Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ianharper on October 10, 2005, 09:19:01 am
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Hi Guys
Has anyone seen those advert trucks that drive around and park up in places? whats the law about these what can or cant you do?
I was thinking about trying it with differant offers. the cost would work out cheap over time if you do it your self? Plus when you are working full out you could sell the space to another local business.
Respect
Ian Harper
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Does your sign written van NOT do the same job for you??
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Ive noticed people doing it with trailers, but they apear to leave an old car attached to the trailer for days at a time with no driver.
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Hi Guys
Come on lads! The cost of half a page in the yellow pages would finance buying a truck and kitting it out with a bill board. Park it a sations in the mornings or at road juctions etc.
I am talking about leaving it parked up all day. Think about what it would cost to have rent a bill board? and thats in one place and only for limited time. this one can be moved around and the message changed when you like.
I know that ther is a franchise that sells space on trucks like these more advanced than what i am talking about they have lights on and drive around all day in towns. So there must be a demand.
Finding new and differant types of Media to advertise taking our message to the groups that we are targeting must be number one on our lists?
There has been messages on this forum about mattress cleaning and allergies these markets are new and need a lot of effort to get them going. Just think about parking one of these trucks in a hospital car park all day with a allergy message on it. or down the raod from a large bed retailer.
One of the down sides to this country is because its so small we dont have magazines that are aimed at small groups, or if there is one it covers the whole UK so its inposable for us to think about covering that amount of area.
So what are the main media, yellow pages, leaflets, mail, are the main three. maybe a advertorial in a local paper. finding new media to carry our message is a must. we dont want to P** of our prospects or clients by using the phone as everyone is doing that at the moment. Fax maybe?
My point is that the more we all market and find new ways to reach those prospects will benifit all carpet cleaners as like in the US we need to move carpet cleaning up those prospects lists of importance.
I think that message is important as well marketing on price will do no one any good. I was talking to a prospect this morning, gave her the price for a room about £100 asked her if she would like protector she asked how much, told her she said not thanks as she did not see any value in it. So I asked about other areas, she walks out into the hall and is thinking if its worth doing. (This carpet is dirter than the one that i will be cleaning) All I said was you should not wait until the carpet looks dirty to clean as the carpets are the lunges of your home.
I end up clean the hall and two other rooms. costing her more money that she was turning up her nose at for the protector. This is a far more powerful message than cheap prices.
I dont think that in your face health cleaning is the way to go, "get your carpets cleaned because of health" but it should be part of the message. the exception should be when you are talking to a sufferer that you have found a way of reaching though some kind of media aimed at that group.
Media and group match is hard, and when you are trying to talk about something that is new in everone eyes then it evan harder, like mattress cleaning. No one of us has the money to promote these new markets but as a group going at it we might stand a chance. just think if everyone just put in their yellow pages advert about mattress cleaning over time this would expand the market for this service. Just like protector is today.
It about being a big fish in a little pond. making your marketing money work harder for your. We have just started putting in our marketing about fast drying service, you would not believe the coments we get about drying times. does this mean that these prospects have had problems in the past with poor service? and like to idea of having their carpets cleaned but have had them done once and they where still wet three days after the clean?
We can all offer low mosture cleaning, but if its not in the message then we might be missing out on those prospects?
Message, media, group match getting it right will make us and other cleaners richer. lets find new way to getting it across, like mobile bill boards
Respect
Ian harper
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Ian,what about insurance for the truck,maintenance,tax,parking when not in use etc.
A good idea but a trailer is the way to imo to avoid the above issues,i,m sure you,ve seen the ones i refer to,large triangular shape with loads of room for your message.
Cheers
Paul
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Ian why not try hiring one before you commit yourself and see the results!
I don't think it will work because you need to put large wording on so people can see it over a certain distance, so the message that you are trying to give will get diluted.
If you have a slogan of "A clean carpet is a healthy one call XXXXXX " is there enough power in that sentence to get potential customers to call?
Why not do what Mike Halliday does and leaflet the same areas once a month but put a different message on it every time make it like a newsletter or parish magazine - Healthy Home News how to live heathier, breathe easier and live longer.
You could have it full of tips (Allergy ones) money saving items, top tips like looking after plants etc and this leaflet will be unobtusive and kept and add value to you and your company and you don't even have to sell when you get in the door as they'll know you by name - editor Ian Harper.
Remember it is not about you! and stories not too long key word Querky.
Shaun
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Hi Guys
Shaun, I do all the above, my aim is to have as many marketing ideas working for me as posable. I have worked out that with the 80 20 rule that i need to find about 2500 customers and market to them each month to make the money that we want.
As you know its all about numbers so the quicker i get to the 2500 database the quicker i get the turnover that we want.
Everything that i do should pay it way (ROI) I have heard it said on this forum that its takes time to get the numbers to earn great money, all I am trying to do is supercharge this, You only live once -)
Paul, If I sent out the same as i have this year on my yellow pages on this project and got the same return then i would be happy and this project would cost loads less next year. With a trailer you cant leave it parked up. OK if you can park it on private land. Our office is on a farm and out the back we have the main train line from london to southend, The owner of the farm has put a container with a sign on it for her container business. Might be an idea?
Respect
Ian Harper
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A local cc franchise has one of these trailers but I have never seen it about. Its sounds like a good idea to raise cleaning awarness and your 'brand' awarness but the only problem I see is are people going to have the few seconds time to read and take down details as they drive past it?
How about you put the trailer on the back of your van and park the trailer at the bottom of the street your working in so the neighbours can all see it. The message would have to be we're working in your area etc.
Try before you buy. Dont buy a van and trailer only to find it dosent work.
Mark
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In our local village a pub leaves his small Fiat 500 which has been sign written advertising his pub on the road outside his main rival.
The local Parish Council and the police cant do anything because it is taxed and insured.
I amazed he has not had the windows smashed.
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Hi Guys
Mark, I am getting some A board signs done for your idea and having a leaflet pocket put on some prospect can tke one. Plus this can be used outside schools etc. I am going to padlock it to a lamp post.
With regard the van sign, I was thing on the lines on an old transit thats had a blow over paintjob then having some large bill boards put on each side. As you say if its got mot tax and ins I should have no problems.
The message should have some knid of offer or be part of a local campain, if the signs are that vinyl cloth types you can change at will.
Costs, its got to cheap. if you think about the fast track guys they use the post office to drop their leaflets a small campain must cost them about £1500 I am sure that this project can be done for that.
Respect
Ian Harper
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I recall in the early '90s when I was selling mobile phones and had a shop in Leeds, Cellnet put a very LARGE mobile sign on the road for me at the time of a Test Match at Headingley, thia s was on the road for 4 days result NOT ONE ENQUIRY!!!
Personally Ian, I would forget it, I think your throwing away hard Earned money!!
Why don't you get yourself a DUSTMITE costume made and go into shopping centres at peak flow and give out leaflets!!
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Ian,
I am no good at Web site nanes but if you do a search for Carpet Doctor I think its the Franchise Marks talking about you will find a picture of their mobile trailer.
You will eventually get into trouble with the local council and face prosecution if you leave your A board on a pavenent or highway.
Also a lot of town centres are banning leafleting and the fines are considerable,
Its up to the Company to find out if it ia s no leaflet zone.